CASL seeks a talented, energetic, and experienced CPA to lead CASL’s Accounting and Finance Department. This is an exceptional opportunity for a candidate with non-profit and governmental service contract experience to lead the energetic Accounting and Finance team, maximize efficiencies, capitalize on technology, strengthen internal and external partnerships and champion CASL’s asset, revenue and expense strategies. The individual will role model the core values of honesty, respect and responsibility, mentor the Accounting & Finance Team and work daily to develop personal and meaningful relationships with partners and team members.

About CASL

For 40 years, the Chinese American Service League (CASL) has served people of all ages and backgrounds: Providing an educational and cultural foundation for our children, ensuring our seniors live full and independent lives with dignity, enhancing education and training for tomorrow’s workforce, strengthening families while honoring cultural heritage, and securing our community's financial well-being, to almost 12,500 Chicago area residents annually.

Financial Overview

CASL has three main funding sources: 1) Government service contracts (including direct and pass-through federal funds), 2) Individual, corporate and foundation grants and donations (managed by the Development team), and 3) Earned service revenue (ripe for growth). Primary expenditures are labor costs (86%), with a team of over 500 employees. Management of government service contracts and related receivables is a main function of the Accounting & Finance Team. CASL’s largest assets are cash & equivalents, contract receivables and the CASL community center building. The largest liabilities are long-term notes payable. CASL has a very healthy unrestricted net asset balance. For the year ended June 30, 2018, CASL received $2,900,000 of federal funds.

We value our employees and support them in learning and growth. We encourage—and even push for—professional development in the field. We value your experience, your expertise, and your input, and we seek your knowledge to expand ours. We work as a team to innovate and express new ideas, learn from our mistakes and celebrate our accomplishments. We constantly seek and implement best practice. Our leadership is supportive, organized, big-picture focused, and constantly asks the question “What do you think? and “How can we support you?”

CASL Programs and Services:

Children and Youth Development:This focus area provides children with the necessary skills to succeed at school while supporting families in their efforts to transition into American culture. It consists of five programs for children 0-18 years old: 1)Family and Learning Resource Center, 2) Early Childhood Education Center, 3) After School Program for Grade, Middle and High Schoolers.

This focus area impacts the mental and physical health of community seniors, encouraging them to live healthy, happy, independent and engaged lives through four key areas: 1) Adult Day Service, 2) In-Home Service, 3) Pine Tree Senior Council, 4) Evidence-Based Workshops

Community and Family Well-Being:

This focus area impacts the stability of the community and family by offering foundational services that safeguard basic needs through the following seven key areas: 1) Immigration Services, 2) Healthcare Outreach and Coordination, 3) Case Management, 4) Public Benefits Assistance, 5) Pro bono Legal Clinic, 6) Community Participatory Research, 7) Advocacy

Cup of Tea:Weekly Saturday meet-ups held for learning and practicing conversational English.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises the accounting and finance team in the performance of ongoing accounting functions. Monitors daily accounting activities, deadlines and proper methods. Oversees the completion of GATA/indirect cost rate calculations and applications for federal, state and local grants. Oversees the execution and completion of CASL’s annual financial statement audit, tax form 990 and IL AG990 and grant/contract audits. Oversees the preparation of assigned financial reports, statements and statistics on agency financial operations for internal and external use.

Oversees the preparation and accuracy of contract billings of governmental agencies on government forms on a timely fashion, including interpretation of contract provisions. Ensures that his/her team works with the respective program managers to (a) monitor actual versus budget contract/grant variances on a monthly basis and make appropriate budget revisions recommendations, (b) monitor and adhere to deadlines for budgets, vouchers, final reports and amendments, and (c) ensure processes for the same are efficient, effective and comply with contract/grant requirements.

Education/Experience:

Bachelor degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university. CPA certificate. Minimum of ten years of experience in accounting and finance with five years of supervision experience. Experience in both public and non-profit accounting preferred.

Skills/Knowledge:

Proficient and experienced in Microsoft Office or Excel. MAS90 software or Enterprise accounting experience preferred Proficient with Federal, State & local grants negotiations and reporting. Experience with earned revenue models.

Internal Number: 1124

About Chinese American Service League

For over forty years, the Chinese American Service League has been the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit social service agency in the Midwest dedicated to the physical, economic, and emotional health of Asian Americans—as well as people of all races, ethnicities, religions, lifestyles, and needs in the greater Chicago area.
Our comprehensive programs provide an educational and cultural foundation for children, ensure seniors live full and independent lives with dignity, enhance education and training for tomorrow’s workforce, strengthen families while honoring cultural heritage, secure our community's housing and financial well- being, and achieve positive social systemic change through advocacy.
Our multilingual, multicultural employees know the challenges of the immigrant experience and strive to have a positive impact for over 10,000 people we serve annually. Supported by CASL, our immigrant community members live prosperous and empowered lives integrating the best of all cultures.
Children & Youth Development supports children ages 0 to 18 years old in getting ready for school and becoming confident, responsible, and thriving individuals who contribute back to ...our community and succeed in global society. Specifically, CASL ensures that children of immigrant families develop with the social and emotional stability they need for healthy acculturation into American society and a positive blend of cultures. We also encourage non-immigrant, non-Chinese families to join us for an enriching cultural experience.
CASL’s four, age-based children and youth programs are a vital foundation that provides the skills for children to succeed at school, and that support the family unit as a whole.
• The Family Learning and Resource Center supports new parents of children ages 0 to 3, includes developmentally-focused in-home visits that are supplemented by center-based, on-site group activities for interactive social experiences.
• The Child Development Center for children ages 2 to 5 is a certified and nationally accredited early childhood education program that provides multilingual, multicultural, full-day curricula in two- year-old, three-year-old, and four-to-five-year-old classrooms—well-rounded, research-based curricula that includes literacy, math, science, art, music, and physical fitness.
• The School Age Center for children ages 5 to 12 addresses the social and emotional needs of children and pre-teens who are either immigrants or have immigrant parents. Academic assistance is paired with artistic outlets and opportunities for children and pre-teens to express themselves and learn to thrive within a blend of cultures.
• The Youth Development Program for ages 12 to 18 provides after school tutoring, mentoring, healthy recreation, leadership training, and preparation for college as well as adulthood.
Senior Wellness & Independence assists seniors with leading healthy, happy, independent, dignified, and engaged lives—in the comfort of their own home and community, and with the support of their own families.
• Adult Day Services enhances older adults’ physical, mental, and social well-being by engaging them in life enrichment activities within a safe, full-day community center environment.
• Homecare Services enable older adults to live independently in their own home through the assistance of home care aides who provide companionship and assist with daily living and personal care.
• Pine Tree Senior Council is a self-driven, social and civic engagement group that empowers seniors to be active in their community—whether through group activities, hobbies, travel, or political advocacy.
• Community Research includes collaboration with medical and academic research institutions that enhance services to seniors.
Employment & Financial Empowerment strengthens our community as a whole by enhancing the economic power of the individuals and families contributing to it. When our community members’ financial needs are met, they in turn become highly productive members of society who benefit us all.
• Adult Employment Program assists in finding job opportunities for adults who have multiple barriers—particularly new immigrants with low English language proficiency. The programs include thorough assessments of individuals, employment coaching and classes, a resource center, placement assistance, and employment retention.
• Title V Senior Employment Program fosters and promotes effective part-time opportunities for unemployed, low-income people age 55 or older with limited employment prospects. The goal is to help participants enter or re-enter the workforce via any career.
• Culinary Training Program offers Western cooking instruction and vocational English as Second Language—equipping students with knowledge and skills for entry-level positions with major hotels, institutions, and restaurants.
• Financial Literacy Program works with individuals and families to help them achieve their financial goals through coaching and education on budgeting, banking, credit, identity theft, loans, purchases, and financial planning.
• Housing Counseling assists individuals and families with preliminary home-buying protocol, post- purchase protocol, foreclosure prevention and intervention, and rental counseling. This program is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• Small Accessible Repairs for Seniors (SARFS) program helps seniors, who are aged 60 and older, make their home more accessible and safer so they can continue living with dignity.
Community & Family Well-Being makes certain that members of our community secure the human rights, foundational services, and public benefits necessary to function and thrive in our society. By stabilizing individuals, we are able to strengthen families and the community as a whole.
• Healthcare Outreach and Coordination is offered in partnership with local hospitals and organizations, and helps those in need to navigate healthcare systems, understand insurance, and gain access to vital resources such as culturally sensitive primary care physicians, women’s health services, wellness maintenance workshops, and health screening.
• Evidence-Based Workshops help seniors manage their chronic diseases, improve their physical strength and balance, and learn to live healthy lifestyles.
• Case Management assesses needs and makes referrals to the appropriate resources.
• Benefits enrollment assistance in programs—such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)— ensure that members of our community have their basic needs met.
• Immigration Services puts immigrants on the path to citizenship through application, education, naturalization, and reunification for those who wish to bring their families to the United States. English as a Second Language (ESL) classes empower individuals with the dignity and confidence they need to establish healthy, productive lives in our society.
• Entitlement programs ensure that members of our community have guidance with Social Security applications, Social Security benefits, and other civic benefits they have a right to.
• Chinatown Pro Bono Legal Clinic is run by attorneys from various law firms and government agencies. They provide free legal consultation for walk-in clients on matters such as family law, real estate, landlord-tenant, immigration, housing, contracts and warranties, consumer fraud, employment, housing, probate, torts, collections, some criminal, and violations of municipal and regulatory laws.
• Advocacy projects—executed in tandem with other local organizations—help keep our community inspired to make positive changes and motivated to take action.